Dermod Travis left his mark on province
Re: “Integrity B.C. executive director dies at 59; he declined liver transplant,” June 2.
It is with profound sadness I note the death of Dermod Travis at such a productive time of life.
His work as an independent social and political critic had no peer in our province. Always forceful and studiously non-partisan, he offered exhaustively researched commentary on critical events in the life of our province.
We are left the poorer for his loss.
Tom Shandel
Cowichan Bay
Library’s painfully slow reopening plans
Re: “Downtown Victoria library gearing up to reopen for pickups,” May 29.
The Greater Victoria Public Library is planning to take several more weeks to do what our bookstores have been doing safely throughout our pandemic — providing service at the door for pre-ordered material.
Why is it taking so long to provide this service? They already have an efficient “hold” system for material. Returned books do not need cleaning — they can just be left for 48 hours and the virus dies.
Some of the branches have exterior entrances so patrons would not even enter the building to pick up materials. Patrons could show their library cards and an ID without having to use the checkout computer.
Their announced plan to have all of the region converge in the enclosed space of the downtown location’s courtyard over a condensed four-hour period would invite crowding or impossible waits.
Surely our librarians can come up with a plan for handing out material safely in a day of creative thinking and open next week.
Ivan Carlson
Victoria
Thought-provoking Island Voices page
I was standing on the painted line outside the medical lab on Bevan Avenue in Sidney, waiting my turn to go in. The door opened and an elderly man not wearing a mask came out.
He did not skirt around at a distance of six feet; rather he was about six inches from me when he coughed in my face.
I don’t think this was a deliberate act, simply a mindless act, which brings me to one of the main points in the excellent column “Mindlessness is toxic to our democracy” by Geoff Johnson on the Sunday Island Voices page.
We see and read about the mindless acts of violence in the United States these days. Johnson counters this with the need for mindfulness which he says is the “the ability to link cause and effect or even action and consequence socially, economically, personally and politically.”
Equally excellent on the same page is the column “How the U.S. lost touch with its founders” by Trevor Hancock. He writes about the decline of the U.S. socially, economically, personally and politically.
Behind all this, he argues, is the cult of individualism that downplays the importance of community and the collective and neo-liberal economics that prioritize the profits and enrichment of the wealthy.
Finally on the same page is an equally engaging and thought-provoking column “Are we as unbiased as we think?” by Charla Huber. She writes about Indigenous people in Canada and their social, economic and political situation.
We, perhaps, should not be too smug about our attitudes toward Indigenous people as there are many example of mindless judgments made by Canadians who have a built-in sense that we are less racist, kinder and more accepting than people in other countries. We should be more mindful.
What a thought-provoking Island Voices page. Thank you.
Harry Jordan
Sidney
Don’t connect Our Place with stabbing
Re: “Man arrested in connection with double stabbing in downtown Victoria,” May 29.
The story said a stabbing took place in the 900 block of Pandora Street, “where the Our Place centre is located.”
Referencing Our Place in regards to this violent crime is unfair and undermines all that Our Place stands for. Perhaps more fitting would be: “where the Island Health supervised consumption site is located.”
Since the supervised consumption site was opened next door, Our Place has struggled with the disruption and negative attention that the crowds of drug users have brought.
Our Place serves homeless and needy “family members” with life-sustaining necessities, such as food, clothing, hygiene, and support. The addicts using the safe consumption site are not typically the same group.
But because Our Place is more visible, social or criminal problems that often have nothing to do with the centre are unfairly ascribed to it.
Please don’t perpetuate this mistake. Don’t feed the community’s misunderstanding or antipathy. Our Place is part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Pete and Sharon Jando
Victoria
Include Maritime Museum in new project
Re: “Capital Iron building part of 6.7 acres bought by Reliance; store to keep operating,” May 29.
Wow, I love the initiative that is being shown by Reliance with this proposal as it captures one of the last best spots on the Victoria waterfront. Their imagination with their other developments provides optimism for what can be done in that area.
Indeed, the late Morris Green’s enterprises on the Inner Harbour brought a lot of colourful and significant maritime activity to Victoria.
Perhaps Reliance could also work out an arrangement with the Maritime Museum to include them as part of the development, bringing an interactive cultural experience that reflects the origins of First Nations and European contact in the development of Victoria.
What a grand opportunity. A nod to Reliance, Green and tourism in one swoop.
Barry Rolston
Victoria
Being fearful dangerous for democracy
Re: “Many questions about the province’s handling of COVID-19 pandemic,” Bob Plecas commentary, May 30.
I am a single senior living in a James Bay high rise. I played cards with old friends last weekend and in doing so mentioned that expanding my bubble involved trust.
I trusted the people with whom I was visiting just as I trusted the information that I had been receiving over the past two months from governments at all levels.
Trusting people has served me, my family and friends more often than not. It is easy to look for a bogey man and to be fearful but I would contend it is “dangerous for democracy,” to use Bob Plecas’ own words.
A divided society, as we see in our southern neighbours is the real danger. Pitting private sector versus public is one such divide. The homeless crisis another. The NDP versus the Liberals, the opposition to bike lanes and pipelines, there is no end to things that can divide Canadians.
I understand how losing a job and wondering about sending children back to school is scary because I see it in my own family.
I agree with Bob Plecas that asking questions and debate is good for democracy but trust trumps all.
Mark Fetterly
Victoria
Showing love by staying away
Yes, it is heartbreaking not to be able to visit family and friends currently in long-term care homes. However, I know I would never be able to forgive myself if, after a visit with them, I had been the cause of their being infected by COVID-19.
Jennifer Shore
Victoria
Homeless people are part of our community
Re: “Victoria city council oversteps its mandate,” letter, June 2.
The letter-writer states that the city shouldn’t be spending money addressing homelessness.
I’ll agree that the city is not responsible for the homeless, rather, our council is responsible for our community, and among us, there are those who are experiencing homelessness.
Do the math.
John Luton
Victoria
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